Primary School Teachers Put Their Protest On Hold Till Dec 20

Bhubaneswar: Primary school teachers, who had been staging a dharna for days near Lower PMG Square in Bhubaneswar have put their protest on hold till December 20.

The teachers’ association took the decision after a meeting with the committee led by Odisha’s chief secretary on Wednesday.

The demonstration was staged under the banner of the NPS Secondary Teachers’ Association. The protesting teachers have long been protesting against the government’s contractual recruitment process.

Their other demands included an increment to teachers who were appointed since 2001 and the reimplementation of the old pension scheme.

When the recruitment of teaching assistants started in the state of Odisha in 2001, these teachers started working for only Rs.1500 per month.

They have been demanding equal pay for equal work. Their demand is an increase in their grade pay from Rs 1900 to Rs 4200.

After six years, these teaching assistants were given the status of regular teachers. In addition, these primary teachers have complained that they are paid less than high school teachers despite having the same educational qualifications.